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The text of the Dame Caroline Haslett Memorial Lecture for 1984 given to the Royal Arts Society, covering recent developments in science and engineering education and training opportunities for women, with particular emphasis on the achievements of 1984, the year designated Women Into Science and Engineering (WISE).

“We need a nation of well‐trained fully informed and motivated people — in other words educated”, said John Egan, Chairman and Chief Executive of Jaguar. He was speaking to more than 200 senior and chief executives at the Engineering Industry Training Board's (EITB) conference, The Winning Margin, in late March. They had come to hear three speakers from West Germany, Japan and the USA describe their methods of developing human resources to achieve competitive success, and also to learn about British success stories. The theme of the conference was that, although the UK is lagging behind other countries, it can catch up, provided we invest in education, training and developing people.

The Directory of Selected Women's Research and Policy Centers deals with activities and research directions of 28 centres. The 24 page directory discusses current and recently completed research projects. They are organised by centre and by subject. For a copy send $4 to WREI, 204 Fourth Street SE, Washington, DC 20003, USA.

1986 has been designated Industry Year to assist in bringing about a change of understanding and attitudes towards industry, that it may be seen as a necessary service affecting the quality of life of every individual, and in order to change Britain's position from bottom of the major industrial league. Industry Year, with the full support of the government, CBI, TUC, BIM and the Engineering Council, will aim to improve awareness of industry's contribution to society, strengthen and add to the initiatives linking education and industry, and encourage industry itself to articulate its role more clearly. Objectives will be fulfilled through harnessing initiatives at local level, through regional working groups, local media, museums and schools. The success of the year will depend on action within industry itself and its component parts — the people and companies involved.

Industry and commerce in the UK are at a critical point. In the last 25 years our share of the world market in manufactured goods has more than halved. At the same time new technology is changing Britain's industry beyond recognition, while takeovers, mergers, buyouts and a fluctuating world economy are forcing a widespread reappraisal in business planning.

The author reviews progress in equal opportunities, both from a social and a legal point of view. Her main conclusion is that there are two vital factors to secure genuine sex equality. No matter how good the “legislative equality package” might be it must be accompanied by complementary social policies. Even with these, women are still expected to — and do — take the primary responsibility for maintaining domestic arrangements. This double burden cannot be alleviated by legislation of any kind — the problem does begin at home.